December 18, 2023 Minutes
December 26, 2023
A meeting of the Stratton Village Board of Trustees was called to order at 7:04pm on Monday December 18, 2023 at 7:00 pm CT at the Village Office by Chairman S. Hanes. Notice of the meeting was posted in three public places and availability of the agenda was communicated in the advance notice. A poster of the “Open Meetings Act” was clearly visible on the wall, and Chairman S. Hanes directed the attention of those present to the poster. All proceedings hereafter shown occurred while the meeting was in session. Present: Chairman S. Hanes, Trustee J. Griffiths, Trustee P. Bohochik (arriving at 7:12pm), Trustee, J. Stewart, Trustee M. McDonald. Also in attendance were: Utilities Superintendent M. Petersen, Clerk T. Hedrick, Assistant Utilities Superintendent C. Stout, and member of the public Mellissa Dailey.
Motion by Griffiths and second by Hanes to approve the previous minutes, treasurers’ report and claims. Roll call: Ayes: McDonald, Hanes, Griffiths, Stewart. Nays: None. Absent: Bohochik. Motion carried.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
Discussion regarding developing access to Boyle Street south off of Hamilton Street. With no objection it was agreed to develop Boyle Street from Hamilton Street south to provide access to property on south of the block. Discussion on assessing cost of the survey to the property owners involved in the dispute of property lines. Motion by Griffiths and second by Stewart to assess the cost evenly to the two property owners involved. Roll call: Ayes: McDonald, Hanes, Griffiths, Bohochik, Stewart. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Nuisance ordinance violation at 510 Barton was reviewed. Clerk Hedrick advised a certified letter with pictures, copy of ordinance and letter explaining items in violation was sent to property owner. It was agreed that the property had not satisfactory met the standards of the Village ordinance. Availability of staff to complete clean-up was discussed. A letter will be sent informing the property owners that work will be completed by Village staff as they are available.
NEW BUSINESS:
Board of Trustees code of ethics and conduct was reviewed and acknowledgments were signed by each board trustee.
Board Reorganization:
Nominations were opened for Chairperson. Hanes was nominated by McDonald and second by Bohochik. With no further nominations, nominations were closed. Roll call to appoint Hanes as chairperson: Ayes: McDonald, Hanes, Griffiths, Bohochik, Stewart. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Nominations were opened for Vice Chair. Griffiths was nominated by Hanes and second by Bohochik. With no further nominations, nominations were closed. Roll call to appoint Griffiths as vice chairperson: Ayes: McDonald, Hanes, Griffiths, Bohochik, Stewart. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Motion by Griffiths and second by Bohochik to select MNB Bank as our Financial Institution. Roll call: Ayes: McDonald, Hanes, Griffiths, Bohochik, Stewart. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Motion by Griffiths and second by Stewart to retain Schroeder & Schroeder, P.C. as our Attorney. Roll call: Ayes: McDonald, Hanes, Griffiths, Bohochik, Stewart. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Motion by Hanes and second by Griffiths to select Almquist, Maltzahn, Galloway & Luth, P.C. as our auditor. Roll call: Ayes: Hanes, Griffiths, Bohochik, Stewart. Nays: McDonald. Motion carried.
Motion by Hanes and second by Griffiths to select Miller & Associates Consulting Engineers, P.C. as our engineer. Roll call: Ayes: Hanes, Griffiths, Bohochik, Stewart. Nays: McDonald. Motion carried.
Motion by Stewart and second by Griffiths to select Chris Miller License Number S-1091 Class A with Miller & Associates Consulting Engineers, P.C. as our street superintendent. Roll call: Ayes: Hanes, Griffiths, Bohochik, Stewart. Nays: McDonald. Motion carried.
Motion by Hanes and second by Stewart to appoint Tara Hedrick as Clerk and Treasurer. Roll call: Ayes: McDonald, Hanes, Griffiths, Bohochik, Stewart. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Motion by Stewart and second Hanes to select Hitchcock County News as our newspaper. Roll call: Ayes: McDonald, Hanes, Griffiths, Bohochik, Stewart. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Motion by Stewart and second by Griffiths that the Village of Stratton Board of Trustees will meet at the Village Office at 411 Bailey in Stratton, NE in the conference room on the third Monday of each month at 7:00 pm unless it falls on a holiday, which the meeting will then be moved to the Tuesday following the third Monday. Roll call: Ayes: McDonald, Hanes, Griffiths, Bohochik, Stewart. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Motion by Hanes and second by Bohochik to have the following committee organization: Streets, Alleys & Landfill: Bohochik and McDonald; Electricity: McDonald and Bohochik; Water & Sewer: Hanes and Stewart; Finance: Hanes and Griffiths; Health & Welfare: Hanes and Stewart; Park & Recreation: McDonald and Bohochik. Roll call: Ayes: McDonald, Hanes, Griffiths, Bohochik, Stewart. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Motion by Griffiths and second by McDonald to give wage adjustment of $350 to Utilities Superintendent Petersen. Roll call: Ayes: McDonald, Hanes, Griffiths, Bohochik, Stewart. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Motion by Griffiths and second by Stewart to give wage adjustment of $300 to Clerk Hedrick. Roll call: Ayes: McDonald, Hanes, Griffiths, Bohochik, Stewart. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Motion by Hanes and second by Bohochik to give wage adjustment of $100 to Custodian Stout. Roll call: Ayes: Hanes, Griffiths, Bohochik, Stewart. Nays: McDonald. Motion carried.
Motion by Griffiths and second by Stewart to give wage adjustment of $200 to Assistant Utilities Superintendent Stout. Roll call: Ayes: McDonald, Hanes, Griffiths, Bohochik, Stewart. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Motion by Griffiths and second by Stewart to give wage adjustment of $200 to Deputy Clerk Burk. Roll call: Ayes: McDonald, Hanes, Griffiths, Bohochik, Stewart. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Motion by Stewart and second by Griffiths to give wage adjustment of $100 to Librarian Faimon. Roll call: Ayes: McDonald, Hanes, Griffiths, Bohochik, Stewart. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Employee evaluations were reviewed.
Motion by Stewart and second by Griffiths to increase the Utilities Superintendent hourly wage to $27.00. Roll call: Ayes: Hanes, Griffiths, Bohochik, Stewart. Nays: McDonald. Motion carried.
Motion by Griffiths and second by Stewart to increase the Assistant Utilities Superintendent hourly wage to $19.00. Roll call: Ayes: McDonald, Hanes, Griffiths, Bohochik, Stewart. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Motion by Griffiths and second by Stewart to increase the Clerk hourly wage to $25.00. Roll call: Ayes: Hanes, Griffiths, Bohochik, Stewart. Nays: McDonald. Motion carried.
Motion by Stewart and second by Griffiths to increase the Deputy Clerk hourly wage to $18.00. Roll call: Ayes: Hanes, Griffiths, Bohochik, Stewart. Nays: McDonald. Motion carried.
Motion by Griffiths and second by Hanes to increase the Custodian hourly wage to $13.00. Roll call: Ayes: Hanes, Griffiths, Bohochik, Stewart. Nays: McDonald. Motion carried.
Motion by Griffiths and second by Stewart to provide $545 monthly stipend for each full time employee and three percent matching retirement contribution for qualifying employees. Roll call: Ayes: Hanes, Griffiths, Bohochik, Stewart. Nays: McDonald. Motion carried.
Employee Report: Discussion was held regarding payroll schedule. Motion by Hanes and second by Stewart to change payroll to bi-weekly from Monday through Sunday with time sheets due the following Monday and pay day the following Thursday, with the exception that if Monday to turn in time sheets is a holiday then they are to be turned in the following Tuesday. To take effect within the next month. Roll call: Ayes: Hanes, Griffiths, Bohochik, Stewart. Nays: McDonald. Motion carried.
Clerk Hedrick advised with several changes to the employee handbook it would be a good time to review the entire handbook. Trustees will review the handbook within the next month for additional updates that may be needed.
Streets, Alleys, & Landfill Committee Report: Utilities Superintendent Petersen advised when there is a good snow the tree pit would be burnt as well as brush and wood from Railway Street flooding.
Electricity Committee Report: Utilities Superintendent Petersen stated the electric meter at a building on County Avenue needed repairs or replaced. Dates for committee meeting with Southwest Public Power were discussed. It was decided January 2nd would work for Hanes and McDonald. Southwest Public Power will be contacted to confirm.
Water & Sewer Committee Report: Utilities Superintendent Petersen informed the board the last water test came back positive for coliform and stated there was air in the water lines. Water training for Assistant Utilities Superintendent was inquired about. Petersen stated they would be waiting until after the beginning of the year as he came across issues getting annual training hours for his own water license that was issued last December.
Finance Committee Report: Discussion was held regarding a customer whom had requested penalties be waived. It was agreed that penalties would remain.
Health & Welfare Committee Report: Nothing new to report.
Park & Recreation Committee Report: Clerk Hedrick advised that individuals and groups in the community were discussing a community meeting to take place in January regarding the possible interest and future of the school building.
Motion made by Hanes and second by Griffiths to adjourn the meeting. Roll call: Ayes: McDonald, Hanes, Griffiths, Bohochik, Stewart. Nays: None. Motion carried and meeting adjourned at 8:16pm.
The next regular meeting of the Village Board of Trustees will be held on Tuesday, January 16, 2024 at 7:00 pm at the Village Office.
| December 2023 Claims | ||
| Vendor | Description | Amount |
| Ace Hardware | Parts | $24.11 |
| American Agricultural Laboratory | Water testing | $117.50 |
| Baker and Taylor | Books | $55.01 |
| Charles Schwab & Co., Inc | Retirement Contribution | $473.04 |
| Clyde Stout | Clothing Reimbursement | $110.16 |
| Culligan Water Conditioning | Monthly Rental | $36.93 |
| DHHA Energy Assistance | Return of Energy Assistance | $700.00 |
| Eakes | Office supplies | $161.78 |
| Farmers Cooperative Grain & Supply | Fuel | $611.67 |
| Great Plains Communication | Phone Service | $444.04 |
| League Builders Supply | Supplies | $249.79 |
| Mike Petersen | Mileage Reimbursement | $49.13 |
| Nebraska Rural Water Association | Membership Fees | $250.00 |
| Ronnie Ann Wissink | Deposit Return | $403.47 |
| Scoop Media | Publications | $112.78 |
| Southwest Public Power District | Power cost | $20,871.44 |
| Storey Kenworthy | Utility Bills | $583.51 |
| Stratton Auto Parts | Equipment Maintenance | $60.37 |
| Southwest Nebraska Clerks Association | Membership Dues | $10.00 |
| USA Blue Book | Parts and Tools | $266.17 |
| US Bank | Payroll Fee, Books | $55.49 |
| Verizon | Cell Phone Service | $160.92 |
| Waste Connections of Nebraska | Town Disposal Charge | $4,068.15 |
| Mandatory Disbursements: | ||
| Aflac | Employee Withholding | $161.38 |
| MNB- Stratton | ACH Fees | $38.21 |
| Nebraska Department of Revenue | Sales Tax | $2,281.34 |
| Payroll | ||
| Gross Salaries | Salaries | $14,226.88 |
| Social Security | Employer Contribution | $880.16 |
| Medicare | Employer Contribution | $205.84 |
| Total Claims | $29,875.46 | |
| Total Mandatory Disbursements | $2,480.93 | |
| Total Payroll | $15,312.88 | |
| Total Claims Report | $47,669.27 |
